The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Click.

The moment the phone call ended, Godfrey’s front door swung open again.

Vivienne glanced down at the huddled Martinez family by the doorway; her lips pursed into a slight smile. “Mr. Martinez, such formalities are hardly necessary.”

“Everybody up, now!”

Stellan’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he glared at Leopold, sprawled out behind him.

A cluster of people awkwardly rose to their feet, their faces painted with awkwardness. “Uh, Ms. Hawthorn, we’re really grateful for your help. Please, stay for dinner to thank you for taking care of my father.”

Audrey, lounging on the sofa, glanced over and snorted disdainfully, then looked away, indifferent to whether Godfrey lived or died.

“Stellan, aren’t you even gonna ask?” But she couldn’t stand to see the Martinez family have it easy. “What if Ms. Hawthorn’s treatment kills Dad?”

Griffin’s retort was sharper, “Because we’re not blind, we can see with our own eyes. Unlike you, sitting there like a frog in a well!”

As soon as Vivienne entered the room, she used her silver needles to stabilize Godfrey, halting his convulsions. The rest of her methods were a mystery to them.

But through the open door, they could see Godfrey’s color improving under Vivienne’s care. Clearly, her treatment was working.

Ignoring Audrey’s sour expression, Griffin cuddled up to Vivienne. “You’re amazing, Vivienne. You’re my hero!”

Leopold beamed with pride at the compliments directed at Vivienne, more pleased than if they were for himself. “Of course, you’ve seen who Vivienne is with, right? Let me tell you, when it comes to medicine, there’s no one better than her.”

Percival raised an eyebrow. “Sucking up won’t help you. Remember, you’re paying for the scratch you put on my car.”

pleaded with puppy-dog eyes, “Considering I’m your youngest junior, maybe we can

subtly. “Remember to

day old when Leopold’s impromptu stunt left a glaring scratch on it! God only knows the murderous rage she felt when stepping

took Percival’s arm and addressed Stellan. “Godfrey’s not out of the woods yet. He’ll need a couple more treatments. This toxin is

with this,” Stellan said, puzzled by

the same issue yesterday. Luckily, someone was with

she thought the attack was solely targeting her mother. Turns out, it

shadows while she stood in the light. This adversary was proving to

Martinez, we have other matters today, so we’ll be taking

warrior lineages. See if there’s a family known for using poison derived from insects. That’s where this toxin

to control neural functions, which is why Godfrey was

my father was poisoned

he thought of that particular family, and Stellan seemed to

silent on the sofa. “Lancelot, let’s not

Hawthorn, rest assured. This concerns my father, and I will investigate thoroughly. However, if he has another episode, we’ll

she said, “It’s no trouble

“Huh?”

him lightly. “What do you mean, ‘huh’? You wrecked Vivienne

them. But why hit me? I only scratched Vivienne’s

pay for it. You were driving; you pay up. Surely, you’re going to say you can’t even afford that

“Who said I can’t?”

can’t be challenged, especially not in matters of finance

afford it! It’s just one car! Even

brow twitched. “You want to

no, I didn’t mean that. I